Process

Weathering

Geology

The deterioration of rocks, soils and minerals in place through contact with water, atmospheric gases, sunlight and biological organisms. It breaks material down where it stands; erosion is the separate process that then carries the loosened material away. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts

Timescale

Slow, in place, years to millennia 1

Driving Force

Rock, soil and minerals break down in place through contact with water, atmospheric gases, sunlight and biological organisms. 1

Resulting Feature

The broken-down material combines with organic matter to form soil. 1

Significance

Weathering is a crucial part of the rock cycle: the sedimentary rock it eventually produces covers about two-thirds of Earth's continents. 1

Driving Force

Driving Force (category)

Hydrological / Water 1

Driving Force (category)

Biological 1

Timescale

Timescale (category)

Years to Decades 1

Timescale (category)

Centuries to Millennia 1

Weathering

1 entry

Discipline

Karstification

Weathering

Connections

Associated With

Karstification

Karstification is a specific, carbonate-focused expression of chemical weathering.

Causes

Awa Sand Pillars

Wikidata P31 (Q854550) mapped to formative process Weathering via earth5 extended reviewed judgment map; source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Awa Sand Pillars

Baraboo Range

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Weathering via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Baraboo Range

Blockfield

Source Blockfield (Wikipedia)

Bowerman's Nose

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Weathering via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Bowerman's Nose

Brandberg Mountain

Cave

Source Cave (Wikipedia)

Cheesewring

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Weathering via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Cheesewring

Chiremba Balancing Rocks

Wikidata P31 (Q4850014) mapped to formative process Weathering via earth5 extended reviewed judgment map; source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Chiremba Balancing Rocks

Cliff

Source Cliff (Wikipedia)

Drumheller Hoodoos

Wikidata P31 (Q854550) mapped to formative process Weathering via earth5 extended reviewed judgment map; source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Drumheller Hoodoos

Enchanted Rock

Etchplain

Source Etchplain (Wikipedia)

Externsteine

Flared Slope

Source Flared slope (Wikipedia)

Fort Valley (Virginia)

Source Fort Valley (Virginia) (Wikipedia)

Haytor

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Weathering via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Haytor

Honeycomb Weathering

Source Honeycomb weathering (Wikipedia)

Karlu Karlu / Devil's Marbles

Kata Tjuta

Katskhi Pillar

Wikidata P31 (Q130990864) mapped to formative process Weathering via earth5 extended reviewed judgment map; source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Katskhi Pillar

Krishna's Butterball

Wikidata P31 (Q4850014) mapped to formative process Weathering via earth5 extended reviewed judgment map; source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Krishna's Butterball

Lembert Dome

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Weathering via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Lembert Dome

Lena Pillars

Manpupuner Rock Formations

Murphy's Haystacks

Source Murphy's Haystacks (Wikipedia)

Mushroom rock

Source Mushroom rock (Wikipedia)

Nubbin (landform)

Source Nubbin (landform) (Wikipedia)

Panhole

Source Panhole (Wikipedia)

Pedra da Gavea

Princess of Hope

Wikidata P31 (Q631305) mapped to formative process Weathering via earth5 extended reviewed judgment map; source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Princess of Hope

Richat Structure

Sentinel Dome

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Weathering via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Sentinel Dome

Spitzkoppe

Sugarloaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro

Tafoni

Source A Dictionary of Earth Sciences (Encyclopedia.com): tafoni

Uluru

In Discipline

Geology

Source Plate Tectonics (Wikipedia)

Sources

1. Weathering (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia Foundation

Introduction (agents)
Weathering is the deterioration of rocks, soils and minerals...through contact with water, atmospheric gases, sunlight, and biological organisms.
Soil
The materials left after the rock breaks down combine with organic material to create soil.
Introduction (rock cycle role)
Weathering is a crucial part of the rock cycle; sedimentary rock, the product of weathered rock, covers 66% of the Earth's continents and much of the ocean floor.
Introduction, opening sentence
Weathering is the deterioration of rocks, soils and minerals (as well as wood and artificial materials) through contact with water, atmospheric gases, sunlight, and biological organisms.

View the Source

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences (Encyclopedia.com): tafoni

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences (Encyclopedia.com)Causes: Tafoni, Definition

Quote, Causes: Tafoni, Definition

A hollow, produced by localized weathering on a steep face.

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Panhole (Wikipedia)

Causes: Panhole, Lead paragraph

Quote, Causes: Panhole, Lead paragraph

A panhole or weathering pit is a depression or basin eroded into flat or gently sloping cohesive rock

View the Source

Honeycomb weathering (Wikipedia)

Causes: Honeycomb Weathering, Lead paragraph

Quote, Causes: Honeycomb Weathering, Lead paragraph

Honeycomb weathering, also known as honeycombs, honeycombed sandstone, is a form of cavernous weathering that consists of regular, tightly adjoining, and commonly patterned cavities that are developed in weathered bedrock; are less than 2 cm (0.79 in) in size; and resemble a honeycombed structure

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Etchplain (Wikipedia)

Causes: Etchplain, Lead paragraph

Quote, Causes: Etchplain, Lead paragraph

An etchplain is a plain where the bedrock has been subject to considerable "etching" or subsurface weathering

View the Source

Cliff (Wikipedia)

Causes: Cliff, Lead section (caused-by Weathering)

Quote, Causes: Cliff, Lead section (caused-by Weathering)

Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity.

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Cave (Wikipedia)

Causes: Cave, Lead section (caused-by Weathering)

Quote, Causes: Cave, Lead section (caused-by Weathering)

Caves often form by the weathering of rock and can extend deep underground.

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Nubbin (landform) (Wikipedia)

Causes: Nubbin (landform), Lead section (caused-by Weathering)

Quote, Causes: Nubbin (landform), Lead section (caused-by Weathering)

The blocks derive from disintegrated and weathered bedrock layers.

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Murphy's Haystacks (Wikipedia)

Causes: Murphy's Haystacks, Lead paragraph

Quote, Causes: Murphy's Haystacks, Lead paragraph

They are of a tumulus form of weathered granite outcrop.

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Mushroom rock (Wikipedia)

Causes: Mushroom rock, Lead sentence

Quote, Causes: Mushroom rock, Lead sentence

The rocks are deformed in a number of different ways: by erosion and weathering, glacial action, or from a sudden disturbance.

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Blockfield (Wikipedia)

Causes: Blockfield, Lead sentence

Quote, Causes: Blockfield, Lead sentence

They are believed to be formed by frost weathering below the surface.

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Flared slope (Wikipedia)

Causes: Flared Slope, Lead sentence

Quote, Causes: Flared Slope, Lead sentence

Flared slopes form due to various weathering patterns that are more effective at the regolith or soil-covered base of rock walls.

View the Source

Fort Valley (Virginia) (Wikipedia)

Causes: Fort Valley (Virginia), Article text

Quote, Causes: Fort Valley (Virginia), Article text

Differential weathering produced the mountain/valley pattern within the Appalachian Ridge and Valley province to which Fort Valley, the Massanutten range and the adjacent Shenandoah and Page Valleys of Virginia belong.

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The Inner World

The Civil World

The Natural World

Weathering

Karstification

Associated With

Causes

In Discipline